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Published: February 10th 2008
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Academia
View from my front porch at my flat. Greetings everyone!
Wow. It's only been 3 weeks in Stellenbosch...so much has happened and unfortunately I have not been dedicated to writing in my journal lately. I honestly don't know where to begin so I suppose I'll just start writing and I may jump around a bit and hope it won't be too confusing.
I am officially enrolled in the Service Learning Community Development Programme. Here is a layout of my class schedule:
Monday & Wednesday : Afrikaans @ 10am-12:30pm / Service Work
Tuesday: Political Science-Transitional Justice @ 10am-1pm / Service Work
Thursday: Community Development Theory @ 2-4pm
Friday: Service Learning Reflection @ 9-11am
Very excited - on Tuesday I find out where I will be placed for my service work. We were asked to write an essay last week about ourselves-our family, interests, academic goals, etc. and from that the two professors of the programme decide where to place us. One option that I am very interested in is working at Pebbles, a farm where I would work with children that suffer from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. However, there are so many great options that I will be happy wherever I am placed.
It has been
Red Square
one of my favorite parts of campus. so nice to be finally settled in. I already feel so at home here...I recently printed out tons of pictures from home and put them on my walls with quotes that I like. One quote that is hanging right by my desk that I especially like reminds me to slow down and take it one day at a time when I am feeling impatient with the pace of life: "Remind me each day that the race is not always to the swift; that there is more to life than increasing its speed. Let me look upward into the towering oak and know that it grew great and strong because it grew slowly and well" (Orin L. Crain).
Campus is soooo beautiful. One road in particular that I get to walk down to get to class is lined with oak trees. The academic buildings are all white with red roofs and their red square is fantastic! I'll make sure to attach a photo of it.
The weather here has been wonderful - sunny and clear skys every day. Well, except the last two Sundays. It has been awesome because these last two Sundays I have gone on long hikes
Stellenbosch
view from a morning bike ride that would have been difficult in the heat. The first hike I went on last week was a bike and hike: we biked for 30 minutes and on the way up the mountain it started to downpour - it was so refreashing! Then we hiked for a while...it was very pretty but not as long as I would have liked. The hike I went on today however - totally different story! Haha...what an adventure! (side note: these hikes and future trips are organized by ISOS-International Student Organisation Stellenbosch.) Okay, so the goal was to hike Botmanskop Mountain - one of the many that surround Stellenbosch. So our guide told us to prepare for a tough hike-mostly uphill the entire time. Well, he was right - until towards the end of the hike we found ourselves rock climbing and I found myself wondering if I should turn back. There were some very dangerous areas and all I could think about was "oh my god how am I going to get back down?!" Well, after some hard work and encouragement I made it to the top! It was very beautiful, however it was very cloudy and I could not see much...then after
Friends
Out at a dance club with some of my favorite girls. From right to left: Irina, Stephanie, me, Pia, Julia. a few minutes, during which time I've scarfed down my PBJ, rain starts pouring down on us. haha...then the thunder started coming! Our guide was very nervous and advised us to head back down ASAP. So, we started down and within a few minutes we were hiking through a steady stream of muddy water and soaked to the bone. Of course, this is South Africa so it was quite refreshing but made the trail very slippery. There was only one scary moment when one girl came too close to falling off a ledge....phew...everyone was so supportive and we made sure to take our time and not rush. It was quite the bonding experience.
Yesterday was quite a day. AIFS organized a trip to Cape Point and Boulders Beach. Wow, so incredible. At Cape Point we climbed to the lighthouse and up there it was sooo windy! Cape Point is the southern most part of Africa. It was amazing to look across the ocean and see no end to it. I then climbed down to a stretch of beach - sigh...it was so good to put my feet in the water. There is something about the ocean that is so
I'm feeling it
At the windy lighthouse at Cape Point peaceful. I love this one quote from Anne Lamont: "I listened to the sound of the ocean over the sound of my own breath. I used to lie on beaches stoned and think I was hearing the sound of the universe breathing." - Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith. As I was hiking in the rain today I thought of this quote and thought to myself how much it felt like the earth was sweating with me...oh, and the smells during these rain storms! so sweet and organic...
Boulders Beach was very sweet. I got to see the African Penguins! There was even a beach area where I found both penguins and people hanging out and swimming. Looking forward to the next AIFS trip - next weekend we go to Kirstenbosch and see a concert by the Rudimentals-a mix of reggae/ska.
I had my first experience of sickness since I have been here...what happened was on Friday I went to the pool for 5 hours and for some reason didn't think about drinking water. Then as soon as I got home I went out with Irina (flatmate) and she took me on an AMAZING run along this trail
Cape Point
amazing beach at cape point that goes up one of the mountains that belongs to the University. Well, we ended up running for over an hour and again, I wasn't drinking any water. I then went out to a braai and at one point I was talking with another exchange student and I suddenly couldn't keep my balance and hardly speak. It was such a weird feeling and I had one of my friends take me home where I proceeded to inhale 3 bottles of water and then pass out to sleep. Well, I certainly learned my lesson. :P
As I write the rain continues...it is very relaxing to listen to the rain...I can hear the huge mutant african grasshoppers outside my window....oh one last thing. had an amazing dinner tonight. Made a delicious salad with lettuce, carrots, and corn that I cooked! Then, rice with canned Spicy Butternut Stew! yummmmm! then for dessert I will eat some mouthwatering lemon creme bisquits and watch the award-winning film, Wimbeldon featuring Kirsten Dunst, with some of my flatmates.
I love all of you so much and I promise to write soon.
Peace & Love,
Ashley
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April
non-member comment
jealousy
that is what i am of you right now... so jealous. How about a Skype date... 6pm my time you pick the evening! email or facebook to let me know!